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Poem: “Five Sons”

Five Sons

Today five sons
Served on the altar
Determined boys
Who would not falter.

Boys at home
Who fight and shove
But on the altar
Assist with love.

At home shouting
From top of lung
On the altar
Latin’s sung.

At home running
Can’t sit still.
On the altar
Disciplined will.

At home throwing
Cereal, toast
On the altar
Adoring Host.

At home bedrooms
Scattered scene
On the altar
Order serene.

I proud mother
Faithful to Rome
Five sons on the altar,
Five men at home.

Hilary M. Flanery


Hilary McRee Flanery studied Theatre Arts in college at Webster University in St. Louis Missouri, USA. She has been in numerous theatre productions over the last 20 years but her real claims to fame have been "Opening Nights" in leading roles on delivery tables throughout the US Midwest where she has performed and produced ten children.


"Raising a large family and writing means that I set up strict priorities. I start each day with a prayer that has been in my family since God was a boy - 'Come Holy Ghost...give me the faith of your Saints, the courage of your martyrs, and the money and success of your athiests.'"

Hilary and her husband, Randy, have been hapily married for 30 years and are certifiably insane. They know this to be a fact since Randy is a Clinical Psychologist.

The Flanerys reside in St. Louis, Missouri with their 10 children, termites and a large bottle of wine. She blogs at www.hilaryflanery.blogspot.com.